Global Risk

Nuclear Information Project

04.18.23 | 2 min read

The Nuclear Information Project, called “one of the most widely sourced resources for nuclear warhead counts” by the Washington Post, uses open sources such as official documents, testimonies, previously undisclosed information obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, as well as independent analysis of commercial satellite imagery as the basis for developing the best available unclassified estimates of the status and trends of nuclear weapons worldwide. 

The Project also conducts analysis of the role of nuclear weapons and provides recommendations for responsibly reducing the numbers and role of nuclear weapons.

The research is mainly published on the Strategic Security Blog, in the Nuclear Notebook in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, the World Nuclear Forces overview in the SIPRI Yearbook, as well as in magazines. As a primary source for reliable information on nuclear weapons, the Project is a frequent advisor to governments, parliamentarians, the news media, institutes, and non-governmental organizations. 

The Nuclear Information Project is directed by Hans M. Kristensen in collaboration with Matt KordaEliana Johns, and Mackenzie Knight (and previously Robert S. Norris). The Project also collaborates with other experts and organizations.

This work builds on the Nuclear Weapons Databook project that Thomas Cochran and Robert Norris managed at NRDC for many years. Many of their publications are available here at FAS via the Archives page.

The Nuclear Information Project is currently supported with generous contributions from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the New-Land Foundation, Ploughshares, the Prospect Hill Foundation, Longview Philanthropy, the Future of Life Institute, and individual donors.

We could not imagine a nuclear weapons field without the Federation of American Scientists.

– Ploughshares

This work builds on the Nuclear Weapons Databook project that Thomas Cochran and Robert Norris managed at NRDC for many years. Many of their publications are available here at FAS via the Cochran Archive and the Norris Archive.

The Nuclear Information Project is currently supported with generous contributions from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, the New-Land Foundation, Ploughshares Fund, the Prospect Hill Foundation, Longview Philanthropy, the Future of Life Institute, and individual donors.

World Nuclear forces

A quick overview with the most up-to-date information on the world’s nuclear weapons arsenals.

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Strategic Security Blog

Read the latest stories and analyses of current nuclear weapons-related issues, from new discoveries to treaty retrospections.

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Nuclear Notebook

Dive into the world-famous Nuclear Notebook series with detailed information about each nuclear armed state.

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Publications

Looking for a project publication? See the chronology with links going back more than a decade.

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In The News

Our research is used by others around the globe. Here’s just a glimpse of the news stories based on our research.

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On Twitter

Follow Hans M. KristensenMatt Korda, Eliana Johns, and Mackenzie Knight on Twitter for real-time analysis and more.

Project staff
Director, Nuclear Information Project
Hans Kristensen
Status of Worldwide Nuclear Arsenals,
Nuclear Policy and strategy, De-alerting,
Nuclear Weapons
Associate Director, Nuclear Information Project
Matt Korda
Nuclear Deterrence and Disarmament,
Open Source Data Collection,
Global Nuclear Weapons Arsenals,
Missile Defence,
Nuclear-Climate Nexus
Eliana Johns smiling in front of a blue backdrop
Senior Research Associate, Nuclear Information Project
Eliana Johns
Nuclear Deterrence and Non-proliferation,
Status of Worldwide Nuclear Arsenals,
North Korea
mackenzie knight
Senior Research Associate, Nuclear Information Project
Mackenzie Knight
Status of Global Nuclear Arsenals,
Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament,
Nuclear Policy and Doctrine
Scoville Fellow, Nuclear Information project
Allie Maloney
Nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament,
Women, Peace and Security